Many of you will have a problem with accepting some of the new gaming solutions, for many this game will never surpass you-know-which installment of the series, but nevertheless you should give the new Heroes a chance. I don't regret the time spent with Heroes VI and truthfully - it gave me more satisfaction than playing Heroes V a few years back. There is no doubt that Ubisoft made a right choice by choosing a Hungarian team to develop this game. I'm waiting for more.

There's no way that Heroes VI could have pleased everyone—relative to its predecessors, some people will say it didn't change enough, and some will say it changed too much. Nonetheless, this is a huge, well-made title that stays true to the roots of the series without throwing in the towel and becoming a straight-up nostalgia trip. It can be punishing at times, and its elaborate plot is a spectacular misfire thanks to the horrendous voice acting, but it's a must-play for Might & Magic fans.

This is still a Heroes game, one of the great strategy series in videogaming history. The graphics and effects are appropriately impressive for 2011, as well. And the game offers a huge amount of single-player content, with dense campaigns for each of its five factions, as well as the usual multiplayer options. Its bells and whistles can be off-putting, but otherwise, Might & Magic: Heroes VI demonstrates why it’s one of the longest-running series in strategy gaming.

Whether you're embarking on an epic contest with friends or adventuring through the dozens and dozens of hours of campaigns, Might & Magic Heroes VI is very entertaining. The appeal of Heroes games has always come from the three pillars of exploration, development, and combat, and the action is in fine form here. Beautiful new lands and creatures provide a welcoming world to explore, streamlined development makes it a pleasure to build up your towns and heroes, and tactically rich combat fills your fights with potential. Though the name may have changed, the allure is the same, and Might & Magic Heroes VI is bound to entice both veterans and newcomers alike.

All in all, Might and Magic: Heroes VI is a triumphant return for the series, albeit one slightly spoiled by a ridiculous name change and irksome DRM. Nonetheless, the game manages to be simultaneously slick and expansive, complex yet simple to learn. As I myself discovered, if you’re yet to try the series, now is a good time to get involved.

I wouldn’t hesitate to call Might and Magic: Heroes VI this generation’s Heroes 3. If you’re a longtime fan of the series I completely understand some of your reservations about “dumbing down” or oversimplifying the game. To you I say: give it a try. Black Hole Entertainment is comprised of Heroes fans as well, and they have not only treated this title with the utmost respect, they have captured the soul of what it means to be a Heroes game. Without fail, every time I sit down to play Heroes VI it is like digital crack, that “just one more turn” syndrome is ever present here, resulting in many a late night adventure in Ashan. To those of you new to the series, you couldn’t find a better place to start. Heroes VI is accessible and easy to learn, but hard to master.

If you’re a Heroes veteran, the host of changes and the streamlining of almost every major system will probably delight you while retaining that core addictive premise. If you’re lucky enough to be a fresh-faced Heroes virgin, there has never been a better time to jump in and pop that turn-based cherry. Though the new entry has enough new wrinkles to draw in returning players, it’s also approachable and intuitive enough to snare newcomers. While Heroes VI isn’t a new book, it’s an immensely satisfying sixth chapter.

Might and Magic Heroes VI may have some issues with battlefield tactics in the late game and its story, but the strategy remains a blast nonetheless. Near infinite hours of gameplay await, and anyone looking for a well-made and addictive turn-based strategy game need go no further than this.

It would be easy to go back to Heroes III. Actually, I will, from time to time, but I won’t throw Heroes VI under a bus. It has problems, technical for the most part, the rest making their way into the “I don’t like it” are when compared with other titles in the series. If you’ve never played Heroes though, the current installment isn’t that bad: 50 campaign hours, Hot Seat to keep my friends close, online multiplayer and many customization options. If the bugs are solved and the designers actually listen to the criticism, the next game will gain more favor. Or... just give us a Heroes III remake.

Might & Magic Heroes VI is a better game than the previous two in the series and Black Hole Entertainment has managed to create a solid base on which they can expand in future installment. But this is not an instant classic and there's no chance that it will replace the second and third in my turn based loving heart. The gameplay mechanics, both in the turn based battles and on the strategic map, are solid and the game looks pretty great but the overall feeling is that it lacks a bit of soul, with a story that makes little sense and an overall art style that seems too clean and stylized for this series. Long term fans of the Heroes franchise should pick this up just to polish their skills and see how the future looks for their favorite series while those who are new to this game universe would be well served by tracking down a copy of the complete edition of Heroes of Might & Magic III and playing that and moving on to VI only if they fall in love with what they see and play.

Might & Magic Heroes VI's entire experience is driven by repetitious, mechanical tactics; it should be reserved for those with masochistic tendencies. The average gamer should definitely pass this up. For fans of this sub-genre, I recommend King's Bounty: Armored Princess. MMH6 crosses the taboo threshold that even bad games should never tread: when gaming likens to work. For me, the greatest pleasure I got out of MMH6 was finally deciding to stop playing.

If I wasn't punched in the face by UPlay every time Heroes VI's engaging campaigns get rolling, I'd be in love. There's a great game hiding underneath the wet blanket of visual glitches and connectivity issues. Heroes VI strikes the right balance between subtle innovation and faithfulness to the core elements that make the series so excellent, but the experience is nearly ruined by the poorly implemented online infrastructure.